Web-holder for knitting-machines.



J. D. HEMPHILL. WEB HOLDER FOB KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAE. 3, 1908.

Patented Bee; 31, 1912.

ERATEEQT JOSHUA It). HEILYHILL, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

VJEE HOLDER FOR KNIT' ING=1/[ACHINES.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josirin l). l'llCMlHlLL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Central Falls. in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ll'eb-iloltle.rs for Knittingdllachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic stocking-knitting-machines, but more especially to improvements in the web-holders thereof, and it consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The objects of the invention are to both simplify and eheapen the construction of the needle-carrying or knitting-cylinder, socalled, and also to provide means which in cooperation with the web-holders movably mounted in the cylinder will positively prevent an accumulation in the web-holder grooves of lint, dirt, and other foreign matter to an extent which would appreciably aflect the proper. working action of the webholders.

. In some types of knitting-machines the upper end portion of the mettle-carrying cylinder is provided with uniformly spaced radially disposed transverse grooves or slots having considerable depth in which thin endwise slidable steel web-holders are mount ed. In such former construction, however, the rear portion of each web-holder usually cut away midway of its width or depth to form an elongated horizontal opening arranged when in use to register with and receive therein a tie member or partition interposed in and horizontally dividing said radial groove into two grooves having lesser depth, thereby providing-means for maintaining the corresponding portion of the Web-holder in the normal position with respectto the top edge or stitch-ring ot' the cylinder at all times. An objection to such former construction is that the labor and time. employed in cutting the partitioned web-holder, grooves in the top or stitcl'i-ring is greatly increased. A more serious objection resulting from such former arrangement is that when the machine is in normal use the small space or pocket lying l'ietween the bottom of the said elongated opening of the web-holder and the proximate edge of the partition of the divided groove, in which latter the web-holder is mounted, becomes Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1908.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Serial No. 409,149.

gradually clogged with lint, dirt, and other foreign matter, the rearward mov ment of the web-holder at the same time a ting to compact the accumulating material, the result being to correspondingly shorten said movement, thus preventing the Web-holder, from making its full normal action to properly cast off the stitches. The work or output in such case being ofcourse of an inferior quality or even waste stock. ln machines employed in producing comparatively fine work and using say some two hundred needles and a like number of web-holders alternating therewith, it is a somewhat difficult matter to keep the web-holder grooves properly cleared under existing conditions, and may only be accomplished manually.

By means of the present invention the objections or disadvantages above named are wholly 0vercome;- the partitions are dis-;

pensed with, therefore the grooves or web-' holder guides can be produced more accugrooves free and open by pressmg any forign matter therein outwardly therefrom into the continuously open center or Work chamber of the cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, in enlarged scale, a top plan view of a portion of a knitting-cylinder embodying my improvement; the web-holders and needles being omitted. Fig. 2 is a corresponding transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig 1. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation, corresponding with Fig. 2. Fig). 4

is a sectional view similar to Fig; 2, sl'iowing in addition a web-holder positioned in the stitch-ring or upper end portion of the cylinder; the web-holder being represented in the normal working position for insuring the casting of the stitches from the needles. Fig. 5 is also a similar seetional view. In this figure are also represented relatively positioned elements adapted to cooperate with the needles and webholders, and Fig. (S is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the cylinder construction.

It may he stated here that the present invention is well adapted to knitting-machines are slidubly mounted usuul latch-needles, as

n, the bucks of 'W'llliil']. bear against the bottom ot the grooves in welldznown man nor. t,

The stitch-ring member 7) is fitted to the top end of the barrel (1 and hes a. thin annular flange b extending downwardly 9. short distance and bearing upon the inner or concave surface of the cylinders well. It may be added that the outer diameter of said ring registers with the bottom of said needle-groove a The ring has a series of vertical radially arranged comparatively deep and narrow grooves 5 extending transversely through its wall, separated by the standing substantially parallel purtitio-ns b the latter being staggered with respect to the said partitions 7) of the barrel, ell as clearly shown. A projecting narrow horizontal circular flange e is formed on the "inner or concave face of the ring, its underside constituting a flat shoulder or abutment. The upper face 6 of the ring may be suitably beveled or adapted to form a supportfor the work being produced. The said webholder grooves b are cut entirely across and downwardly from the top through the said beveled end flanged ,purts of the ring to u point near the top of the barrel a. See Figs. 2 and 3. In other Words, the depth of the groove is substantially equal to the depth or width of the web-holder. A fiat thin sheet-metal ring or annulus c is located immediately. contiguous to the underside of said flange 0 its width as drawn exceeding that of the shouldered pert. See Figs. 1 and Q. The flat thin. web-holders s are coiistructed and adapted tor use substantially as usual. They are positioned edgewise in the said ring 3 the portion of each extending r'earvurdly fromv the throat Z pessing'into end being supported in the corresponding groove Z2 The web-holder is provided with upper and lower arms, 5 8 respectively, separated by the usual elongated parallel opening f terminuting in the body part of the Web-holder.

The said lower member s is'soinewhat longer than its fellow sothet it may extend under endleven beyond the-ennulus c, as clearly shown in Fig. This figure nulus member. or" the web-holder is supported in e grooved narrow circular flange 6 of the ring, thereby at all times preventing the annulus end the web-holders from rising from their normal positions.

In Fig. 5 is represented means for throwing the web-holders out of normal'uction,

thereby placing the web-holders throat-s some distance in front of the needles n. l his figure indicates the other extreme position in the webdiolders movement; -1t will be seen that even in this position the lower arm of the web-holder is still engaging the en- The front or outer portion member g, termed a. web-holder" ring, the same being secured to the barrel of the cylinder by screws g passing transversely through inwardly extending lugs g of said rin The cylinder may be slightly reduced in iumeter, as indicated at a, thus forming u shoulder to receive and position the ring 9. 'The latter has a comparatively large open annular air space u for the free passage of lint, &c., which also permits the latch Z of the needle to swing unobstructedly therein, as indicated by the dotted line. it indicates a. stationary Web-holder cap-ring, so-callcd, and 'w a slidable web-holder cam mount-ed therein and engaging the webholders when the latter are to be rendered temporarily inoperative. 'lhe cum-shank 'w extends outwardly through the ring h and is perforated to receive the vertically arranged arm m of the actuating lever m pivoted at r to a bracket 7'. This and other cooperating elements of the machine are more fully illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 388,093.

From the foregoing description itis obvious that toe shoulder or flange e of the stitch-ring b and the thin tint annulus c serve to keep the Web-holders in the normal position vertically with respect to the top of the cylinder A at all times. It is also clear that in case any lint, &o., collects in the space f of the web-holder it is free to pass out or be forced out at the rear end of the ing the edge of the thin annulus c. The.

movement of the work itself it is produced and passes downwardly over the stitch-ring has a tendency to attract any foreign matter from the web-holders through the adjacent open end of the webholder grooves.

In lieu of providing the stitch-ring b and securing it to the barrel (1 to complete that portion of the needle-cylinder, the latter may be extended vertically correspond ing to the normal level of the top of the ring and provided with an integral flange 6 and web-holder grooves 6 as indicated in Fig. 6. If desired the upper exterior portion of the-cylinder may be reduced in diameter so as to give freerscope or play for the latches of the needles, as indicated at a I claim as my invention 1. A knitting-machine, having in combination a needle-cylinder provided with an inwardly extending annular flange, the upper end of-said cylinder including said annular flange, havin radial grooves therein, web-holders located web-holder having an inwardly extending portion, and a horizontally disposed thin in said grooves, each annular ring located below said annular fiangeand held in place by the inwardly extending portions of said web-holders.

2. 'In a knittingmachine, the combination of a needle-cylinder provided with an inwardly extending horizontal annular flange located below the plane of the normal stitch casting-off point, theupper end portion of the cylinder including said flange having spaced radial grooves therein, web-holders mounted for movement in said grooves, each web-holder having a lower member thereof extending inward through the wall of the cylinder below the latters said annular flange and forming a limited space ther'ebetween, and a horizontally disposed thin annulusmovably located in said space and supported on the said inwardly extending lower member of the web-holders.

Signed at Providence, R. 1., this th day of December, 1907.

' JOSHUA D. HEMPHILL.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. REMINGTON, HENRY P Srone. 

